Skylight



c, RAscHKA Aug. 8, 1933.

SKYLIGHT Filed Dec. 7, 1951 omey.

CII

Patented Aug. i8, 1.933

'1,921,303 SKYLIGHT Charles Raschka, Wauwatosa, Wisaa'ssignor to Super-'Steel Products Company, lllilv'vaukec,v

` Wis.

v Application December 7,1931. serialyNo. l579,366 n '12 claims. (ctms-16) The invention relates to improvements in skylights'l and particularly to hip or ridge skylight structures embodying improved features ofcony struction.

An object of the invention is to provide a hip skylightv structurewith improved means forsecuring the hip bars to the curb bars. 1

Another object is to provide a ridge, hip, and rafter kbar of a skylight with improved means to facilitate securing ofthe respective caps thereover.

Another object is to provide a skylight struc ture with an improved cross kbar to facilitate` mounting and insure retention of glasssections' therein. Y K' Another object isto provide a skylight structureincorporating improved Yfeatures of construction which facilitatesassemblyfand reduces labor and manufacturing costs` I L i j The foregoing and such-'other objects-of the invention as will "appear hereinafter as 'theele-V scription proceeds, `will be' morerreadily under-l stood froma perusalof the following'specifica-l tion, reference being had to'the accompanyingv drawing, in which: Y Y c Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a hip skylight. I 'Y substantially on line 2-'2 of'Fig. 1.v .L 1

Fig..3 is a sectional View of' a rafter bar, Vtaken online Y3---3 of Fig. 1. Y. i v. f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'plan,Vv with parts broken l away, of the improved1 union connecting the hip andrafter bars to theridge bar vand curb bar.

'Y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View-taken on line 5 5 of Fig-4. i

In hip skylight structures Fig. 2 is a fragmentary `sectional View taken countered in fitting and securing'the hip bars in place, due,.primarily, Vto thenecessity ofi'nitering lthe ends of said bars to insure tight-joints.' YThe-improved structure, as illustrated,A gener-` ally, in Fig. 1, includes a substantially rectangular base or supporting frame l1 vconsisting of side curb bars 12 and end curb bars 13 joined at the corners 14 in any knownmanner. A hip bar 15 extends upwardly and Yinwardly from each corner 14 ofthe frame andthe converging bars Vat'each end of the frame. areljoined at'their other ends andv secured Vto a ridge bar 16' in an improved manner to be later described. Usuallyeach end of thel hip bars 15 isrmitered or otherwise out vto provide a tight weather-proof joint at its connectiongwiththe Vridgebar and with the frame 11. However, in the improved l y of usual construe`AV tion, considerable difficultyand expense'is en' structure suitable means is provided to simplify itsmounting and reduce the manufacturing and assembly cost. Y

As shownin Figs. 1 and 4, a fitting or union l'l preferably comprising, substantially, .a triangularly shaped box-like' structure Yhaving its open side disposedupwardly, is provided at each corner of the frame 11 and issecurcd to said frame preferably by bolts l'passing through theree spective side walls 19 Yof said union. The two inclined side walls 19 of each union form a right angle which fits tightly into the inside corner of the frame. A verticallyv inclined wall 21 extends diagonally between the walls'19 andv preferablykk f is connected thereto by intermediate wall portions 22. This vertically inclined wall is pitchedl to receive squarely the lowersquare cut end of the hip bar' 15 which is secured thereto in a suit-y able rnanner such as by bolts 23Ypassing through the wall 21.v As shown, the fitting or` union 1'7` is of sufficient size to admit a wrench or other tool while assembling. l v

Another box-like fitting or union 24 (Fig. 4) is secured to each end of the ridge bar 16 by bolts 25 which pass through the vertical wall 26 of said union and through angle clips 27 provided on each end of the ridgeA bar. End walls 28 eork extend at right angles to fthe' wall 26 vand are connected with ya downwardly inclined wall 29 by diagonal vertically inclined walls 31. 'Ihe diagonal vertically inclined walls 3,1 each are adapted to meet squarely one' of thesquarev cut upper ends of hip bars V15 divergingupwardly and inwardly fromv the adjacent corners vof the same end of the frame 11'.v The square cutupperfends of the hip bars 15 are securedrto the respective walls 31 by bolts 32;V The walls 28 rand wall V29 are each adapted to receive the square cut upper end of the respective rafter bars 33 and 34 which are secured thereto by bolts 35 and 36,'re'spectively. AIt will be noted'lthat the union is arranged with its open end disposed upwardly to" facilitate access thereto with a'tool :to-hold bolts'25', 32, 35, and'36.

`The ridge 'bar 16v has oppositely downwardly directed longitudinal flanges `3'? and shoulders 38 to receive thereon the upper mardisposed icc ginall edges of the upper sectionsv of glass .39. t

The lower marginal edges ofthe glass sections 39 are adaptedto Vbe inserted into a recess 42 formed by yproviding spaced parallel flanges 43 Aand 44 on 'the upwardly disposed side of a cross-bar 45, rigidly secured to the rafters intermediateframe l11 and ridgebar 16.- 5

The upper or retaining flange 43 of the crosstain of the rafter bars also is covered by a cap bar 45 is, as shown in Fig. 2, substantially narrower than flange 44, and when a section of the glass 39 is to be mounted, said glass is positioned with its upper edge against the shoulder 38 whereby its lower edge clears the edge of flange 43, as shown in dotted lines, and rests upon flange 44. rThe glass section is then slid downwardly into the recess 42 and a felt or putty lining 46, having previously been inserted therein, insures a weather tight joint. The space between the upper edges oi the glass sections and the shoulders 38 are filled with felt or putty 47 and a suitable cap 48 having retaining` flanges 49 is placed over the ridge bar to retain the glass in place.

Ordinarily the cap 48 is secured in place by bolts passing through holes therein and engaging in tapped openings in the ridge bar. I-Iowever, this structure is objectionable since it often requires drilling and tapping oi theholes while the parts are being assembled. As shown, this objection is overcome by providing, in the upper face of the protruding longitudinal rib 50 on the ridge bar 16, a longitudinal central substantially T-shaped slot 5l. Bolts 52 having their heads 53 retained in the slot 51 are arranged to pass upwardly through holes 54, previously provided in the-cap 48, and nuts 55 are threaded on the extended ends of said bolts to draw the cap tightly down against the upper marginal edges of the glass sections. The cross bar and ridge bar structure herein shown are applicable to any type of hip or ridge skylight other .than the exemplary structure illustrated.

, The rafter bars 33, 34, and 56, and also the hip bars vl5 preferably are substantially like the ridge bar in cross section. As shown in Fig. 3, it will be noted however, that the marginal flanges 37.' of the rafter bar 56 are not inclined, since the glass sections lie in a parallel plane. l

It will readily be apparent that the lower marginal edges of the glass sections 39 Vare positively held by the retaining edge or ilange 43 'on the cross bar 45. In common practice such retaining means is not provided, which often resuits in the displacement of the glass sections or the development of leaks at the joints. The putty o r felt provided in the space between the remaining edges of the glass and shoulders 38 and 38 is fully protected from the weather by Y caps 48 and 48 and their retaining flanges 49 i Ul and 49.

The union 24 joining the ridge, hip, and cer- 5'7A closedion its end to exclude water or other deteriorating agents. The union 17 also may be covered, to prevent accumulation of foreign mattei' therein.

Although an exemplary form of the improved skylight structure is shown in the accompanying drawing, and described in detail in the foregoing, itis to be understood that said structure may embody Various modifications in detail I without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims;

l claim:

I. A skylight structure comprising, in combination, a plurality of sections of glass, a ridge bar, said ridge bar having a central longitudinal rib providing a longitudinal shoulder on each side to support one marginal vedge of certain of" said glass sections, a cap adapted to overlie said marginal edges of the glass sections, and a central longitudinal T-shaped slot in said rib adapted to receive and retain the heads of a plurality of bolts extending upwardly through holes in said cap, and means threaded on the extended ends oi said bolts to retain said cap in place.

2. In a skylight structure, the combination of, a ridge bar, said ridge bar having a central rib formed with a longitudinal slot substantially 'F1-shaped in cross section, a cap adapted to overlie said ridge bar, bolts having their heads anchored in said slot extending through openings in said cap, and means threadingly engaging the extended ends of said bolts to retain the cap in place.

3. In a skylight structure, the combination oi, a ridge bar, a longitudinal shoulder on each side of said ridge bar to support one marginal edge of each of a plurality of glass sections, said shoulders providing a longitudinal upwardly protruding rib, a cap adapted to be placed over said ridge bar, a central longitudinal slot .in said rib adapted to receive and retain a yplurality of said cap, and nuts threadingly engaging the extended ends of said bolts to draw the cap` tightly against the saidfmarginal edges of the glass sections. Y

4. In a skylight structure, a frame consisting of substantially parallel side and end bars, a ridge bar, a fitting on each end of said ridge bar, a hip bar extending upwardly andginwardly from each corner of said frame toward the ridge bar, said hip bars connecting at their upper ends with the associated fitting on said ridge bar, and a connecting union of one piece in each corner or said frame to facilitate connection of the hip bars with said `frame.

5. A skylight structure having, in combination, a substantially rectangular 'base frame` including side and end members, a ridge bar, hip bars extending from the-ends of said fridge bar one to each corner or" said rectangular ;frame,and

one piece unions one in;` each corner of saidY frame and one on each end of saidv ridge bar to facilitateconnection of thehip bars thereto.

6. A skylight structure including a plurality of glass sections comprising, in combination, a

vsubstantially rectangular frame including side and end members, a ridge bar, hip bars two cX- tending from each end of said ridge bar and diverging toward the` respectivecorners of'said frame, a fitting interposed between the end of each hip bar and the respective ends of the ridge bar, and the other ends of said hip bars being secured to'a tting connecting the respective tions, and a longitudinal T-shaped slot in said central rib adapted to receiveand retain a plu# rality of bolts :therein Afor securing means on the ridge barto retain VY said glass sections in place. Y v Y y 8. A union for a skylight structure, including a rectangular frame and a hip bar, comprising,` in combination, one side and one end Wallrar ranged at right angles to each other to nt an said hip bars in abutment therewith.

10. A union for a skylight structure, including a ridge bar and a plurality of hip bars, comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed wall.

adapted to be secured to one end of said ridge bar, and diagonally arranged vertically inclined walls extending on one side and inwardly from the ends of said vertical wall each adapted to receive one end of said` hip bars in abutment therewith. y

11. A union for a skylight structure, including a ridge bar and a plurality of rafter and hip bars, comprising, in combination, a verticallyv disposed wall adapted to be secured to one end of the ridge bar, vertically inclined walls eX-A tending on one side from each end of said ver- Vtical wall, each adapted to receive in abutment therewith a rafter, vertically inclined converging walls extending from each side Wall each adapted to receive in -abutment one of said hip bars, and a connecting wall between said converging walls to receive a rafter in abutment therewith.

12. Avunio'n for a skylight structure including a ridge bar and a plurality of hip bars compris--A ing, in combination, a vertically disposed wall ladapted to be secured to one endof said ridge bar, and diagonally larranged vertically inclined walls extending outwardly from said vertical rwall each adapted to receive one end of one of said hip bars in abutment therewith, said hip bars having square cut ends.

` CHARLES RASCHKA. 

